Tool suspension assembly

ABSTRACT

A tool suspension assembly has a base and multiple tool holders. The base is elongated and has a back board and a rail. The rail is elongated and is longitudinally formed on the back board. The tool holders are slidably mounted on the rail and each has a clamp, a tool mount and two oblique guiding tabs. The clamp is mounted slidably on the rail. The tool mount is tubular, is connected to the clamp and has a C-shaped cross section, a first part and at least one second part. The C-shaped cross section makes the tool mount having an opening. The at least one second part has a thickness smaller than that of the first part. The oblique guiding tabs are respectively and obliquely formed on and protruding from two sides of the opening of the tool mount.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a tool suspension assembly, and more particularly to a tool suspension assembly that can hold tools in a convenient way.

2. Description of Related Art

A tool suspension assembly can hold multiple tools, such as screwdrivers or wrenches and is always attached to an object for storing or displaying the tools on the wall. A conventional tool suspension assembly has multiple tool holders arranged at intervals for holding tools thereon. However, the intervals of the tool holders on the conventional tool suspension assembly are not adjustable, such that the use of the conventional tool suspension assembly is not convenient and versatile.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide a tool suspension assembly to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the invention is to provide a tool suspension assembly that can hold tools in a convenient way. The tool suspension assembly has a base and multiple tool holders. The base is elongated and has a back board and a rail. The back board has a front side and a rear side. The rail is elongated and is longitudinally formed on and protrudes from the front side of the back board. The tool holders are slidably mounted on the rail on the base and each has a clamp, a tool mount and two oblique guiding tabs. The clamp is mounted slidably on the rail on the base. The tool mount is tubular, is connected to the clamp and has a C-shaped cross section, a first part and at least one second part. The C-shaped cross section makes the tool mount having an opening defined in a side of the tool mount opposite to the clamp. The at least one second part has a thickness smaller than that of the first part. The oblique guiding tabs are respectively and obliquely formed on and protruding from two sides of the opening of the tool mount.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tool suspension assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a hanging board with two tool suspension assemblies in FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the hanging board with one of the tool suspension assemblies in FIG. 2;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a first embodiment of tool mount of the tool suspension assembly in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is operational perspective views of the tool suspension assembly in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is operational top views in partial section of the tool suspension assembly in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an operational side view in partial section of the hanging board with the tool suspension assemblies in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6A is an enlarged side view in partial section of the tool suspension assembly in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a tool mount in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is operational top views in partial section of the tool mount in FIG. 7; and

FIG. 9 is operational perspective views of a tool suspension assembly with the tool mounts in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 3, a tool suspension assembly in accordance with the present invention may be hung on a hanging panel or a wall and comprises a base (10), multiple tool holders (20) and two hanging elements (30).

The base (10) is elongated and comprises a back board (11) and a rail (12). The back board (11) has a top edge, a bottom edge, a front side, a rear side and two hanging holes (111). The hanging holes (111) are defined through the back board (11) respectively near two ends of the back board (11). The rail (12) is elongated and is longitudinally formed on and protrudes from the front side of the back board (11). With reference further to FIG. 6A, the rail (12) may comprise two rail elements separately mounted on and protruding from the front side of the back board (11). The rail elements each have a T-shaped cross section to define a rail channel (121,122) opposite to each other. The rail elements are separated from each other, so a guiding channel (123) is defined between the rail elements to make the rail elements being resilient.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 3, 7 and 9, the tool holders (20,20A) are slidably mounted on the rail (12) on the base (10), and each tool holder (20,20A) has a clamp (21,21A), a tool mount (22,22A), two oblique guiding tabs (222,222A) and two lateral tabs (223,223A). The clamp (21,21A) is mounted slidably on the rail (12) on the base (10) and has two rail hooks (211,212) formed respectively on the top and bottom of the clamp (21,21A) and respectively held slidably in the rail channels (121,122).

The tool mount (22,22A) is tubular, is connected to the clamp (21,21A) and has a body having C-shaped cross section, a first part and at least one second part. With the C-shaped cross section, an opening (221,221A) is defined in a side of the tool mount (22,22A) opposite to the clamp (21,21A). The at least one second part has a thickness smaller than that of the first part to make the tool mount (22,22A) being resilient and easily expandable. In the first embodiment as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. The tool mount (22) has two second parts formed respectively at the sides of the opening (221). In a second embodiment, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the tool mount (22A) has two recesses (2212A) defined longitudinally in an inner surface of the tool mount (22A) to define two second parts on the tool mount (22A) respectively at positions in which the recesses (2212A) are defined.

The oblique guiding tabs (222,222A) are respectively and obliquely formed on and protrude outward from two sides of the opening (221,221A) of the tool mount (22,22A).

The lateral tabs (223,223A) are respectively connected to the guiding tabs (222,222A) and are parallel with the back board (11) of the base (10).

In the first embodiment, each tool holder (20) may further have two connecting tabs (224) and a reinforced tab (225). The connecting tabs (224) are respectively connected to the lateral tabs (223) and to the clamp (21) of the tool holder (20). The reinforced tab (225) is laterally formed between and connected to middle portions of the clamp (21), the tool mount (22) and the connecting tabs (224). With the arrangement of the reinforced tab (225), the structural strength of the tool holder (20) is enhanced. With the arrangement of the connecting tabs (224) and the reinforced tab (225), the tool mount (22) is connected to the clamp (21).

With reference to FIGS. 7 to 9, in the second embodiment, each tool holder (22A) further has two connecting tabs (224A) mounted between the tool mount (22A) and the clamp (21A) of the tool holder (20A) to connect the tool mount (22A) to the clamp (21A).

With reference to FIGS. 6 and 6A, the hanging elements (30) are attached to the rear side of the back board (11), and each hanging element (30) having a hanging board (31), two base hooks (32) and a panel hook (33). The hanging board (31) has a top, a bottom, a front side attached to attached to the rear side of the back board (11) and a rear side. The base hooks (32) are formed respectively on the top and bottom of the hanging board (31), protrude from the front side of the hanging board (31) and are mounted over and hook on a top edge and a bottom edge of the back board (11) in respective. The panel hook (33) is formed on and protrudes from the rear side of the hanging board (31) to be inserted into or engage a hole defined in a hanging panel or a wall.

To attach the tool suspension assembly onto a hanging panel or a wall, with reference to FIGS. 2, 2A, 6 and 6A, the panel hooks (33) are inserted respectively into holes defined in the hanging panel or the wall. Fasteners, such as bolts or nails are mounted through the hanging holes (111) in the back board (11) and into the hanging panel or the wall. Consequently, the tool suspension assembly can be held securely on the hanging panel or the wall.

With reference to FIGS. 2, 4 to 6, 8 and 9, to hang tools (40,50), such as a screwdriver (40,50), wrench or the like on the tool suspension assembly, the shank (41,51) of a tool is inserted into and held on the tool mount (22) of one of the tool holders (20). Take a screwdriver (40,50) for an example, the shank (41,51) of the screwdriver (40,50) can be inserted into the tool mount (22,22A) from the top of the tool holder (20,20A) in longitudinal direction or via the opening (221,221A) in a horizontal direction.

When the screwdriver (40,50) is inserted into the tool mount (22,22A) from the opening (221,221A), the oblique guiding tabs (222,222A) can provide a guiding effect to the shank (41,51) of the screwdriver (40,50) to allow the shank (41,51) into the opening (221,221A) easily. When the shank (41,51) enters the opening (221,221A), the C-shaped tool mount (22,22A) will be expanded to allow the shank (41,51) entering into the tool mount (22,22A). Consequently, the screwdriver (40,50) can be securely held on the tool mount (22,22A) of the tool holder (20,20A) for storing or displaying.

When a user wants to use a tool, the tool is pulled outward from the top of the tool mount (22,22A) directly or from the opening (221,221A). When the tool is pulled out the tool mount (22,22A) from the opening (221,221A), the tool mount (22,22A) is expanded to allow the shank of the tool to escape from the tool mount (22,22A). Accordingly, to take the tool into or out from the tool holder (20,20A) is easy and convenient. In addition, with the arrangement of the second parts having a thickness smaller than that of the first part of the tool mount (22,22A), the tool mount (22,22A) is easily expanded to allow the tool to enter into or escape from the tool mount (22,22A).

Additionally, because the tool holders (20,20A) is slidable along the rail (12) on the back board (11), the distance between adjacent tool holder (20,20A) is adjustable to fit with different kinds of tools. Thus, the tool suspension assembly in accordance with the present invention is versatile in use.

Furthermore, with reference to FIG. 2, because the tools can be put into the tool mounts (22,22A) in a horizontal direction, so the distance between two adjacent tool suspension assemblies on a hanging panel or a wall can be minimized. Accordingly, more tools can be hung on the hanging panel or the wall with the compact arrangement of the tool suspension assemblies.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A tool suspension assembly comprising: a base being elongated and having a back board having a front side and a rear side; and a rail being elongated and longitudinally formed on and protruding from the front side of the back board; and multiple tool holders slidably mounted on the rail on the base and each having a clamp mounted slidably on the rail on the base; a tool mount being tubular, connected to the clamp and having a C-shaped cross section to define an opening in a side of the tool mount opposite to the clamp; a first part having a thickness; and at least one second part having a thickness smaller than that of the first part; and two oblique guiding tabs respectively and obliquely formed on and protruding from two sides of the opening of the tool mount.
 2. The tool suspension assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the guiding tabs of each tool holder respectively protrude outward from the sides of the opening of the tool mount.
 3. The tool suspension assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein each tool holder further has two lateral tabs respectively connected to the guiding tabs and being parallel with the back board of the base.
 4. The tool suspension assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein each tool holder further has two connecting tabs respectively connected to the lateral tabs and to the clamp of the tool holder.
 5. The tool suspension assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein each tool holder further has a reinforced tab laterally formed between and connected to the clamp, the tool mount and the connecting tabs.
 6. The tool suspension assembly as claimed in claim 5, wherein each tool mount has two second parts formed respectively at the sides of the opening.
 7. The tool suspension assembly as claimed in claim 6 further comprising two hanging elements attached to the rear side of the back board and each having a hanging board having a top, a bottom, a front side attached to attached to the rear side of the back board and a rear side; two base hooks formed respectively on the top and bottom of the hanging board, protruding from the front side of the hanging board and respectively mounted over and hooking on a top edge and a bottom edge of the back board; and a panel hook formed on and protruding from the rear side of the hanging board.
 8. The tool suspension assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein each tool holder further has two connecting tabs mounted between the tool mount and the clamp of the tool holder to connect the tool mount to the clamp.
 9. The tool suspension assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein each tool mount has two recesses defined longitudinally in an inner surface of the tool mount to define two second parts on the tool mount respectively at positions in which the recesses are defined.
 10. The tool suspension assembly as claimed in claim 9 further comprising two hanging elements attached to the rear side of the back board and each having a hanging board having a top, a bottom, a front side attached to attached to the rear side of the back board and a rear side; two base hooks formed respectively on the top and bottom of the hanging board, protruding from the front side of the hanging board and respectively mounted over and hooking on a top edge and a bottom edge of the back board; and a panel hook formed on and protruding from the rear side of the hanging board.
 11. The tool suspension assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each tool holder further has two lateral tabs respectively connected to the guiding tabs and being parallel with the back board of the base.
 12. The tool suspension assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein each tool holder further has two connecting tabs respectively connected to the lateral tabs and to the clamp of the tool holder.
 13. The tool suspension assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein each tool holder further has a reinforced tab laterally formed between and connected to the clamp, the tool mount and the connecting tabs.
 14. The tool suspension assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each tool holder further has two connecting tabs mounted between the tool mount and the clamp of the tool holder to connect the tool mount to the clamp.
 15. The tool suspension assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each tool mount has two second parts formed respectively at the sides of the opening.
 16. The tool suspension assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each tool mount has two recesses defined longitudinally in an inner surface of the tool mount to define two second parts on the tool mount respectively at positions in which the recesses are defined.
 17. The tool suspension assembly as claimed in claim 1 further comprising two hanging elements attached to the rear side of the back board and each having a hanging board having a top, a bottom, a front side attached to attached to the rear side of the back board and a rear side; two base hooks formed respectively on the top and bottom of the hanging board, protruding from the front side of the hanging board and respectively mounted over and hooking on a top edge and a bottom edge of the back board; and a panel hook formed on and protruding from the rear side of the hanging board. 